1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature

english department
Students in Environmental
Literature prepare to go
canoeing on the Bronx River
Manhattan Students
doing archival research
at the NYC Public Library
our department
As an English major or minor at Manhattan College, you
will become part of a diverse community of faculty and
students passionately engaged in literary study. We are
readers, writers and thinkers who value both intellectual
rigor and creative experiment, and we believe in the
fundamental role that literature plays in our understanding
English majors studying
abroad in London
“I learned how to think critically as an English
major. Not everyone knows how, and when
colleagues find that you can offer a different
perspective, you become an invaluable resource. Being an English major helped me to challenge
the status quo.”
of ourselves and the world around us. Lively conversation
–Jessica Gallus ’01,
about books and writing takes place not only in our
Strategic Studies Fellow,
US Department of Defense
classrooms but also in a wide variety of informal settings,
such as our faculty/student “English Night” gatherings or
frequent poetry and fiction readings. Literary culture is
alive at Manhattan, and our department, one of the largest
on campus, is at the heart of it.
Professor Adam Koehler with Pulitzer
Prize winner Junot DÍaz and students
“While the transition to a Ph.D. program can
be daunting, I feel at ease in graduate school
because my training as an English major at
Manhattan College gave me the ability to
cultivate new intellectual pursuits, develop
innovative critical methodologies, and write for a
variety of scholarly audiences — skills that would
serve me well throughout my graduate career.”
– John Easterbrook, VALEDICTORIAN CLASS OF 2004,
Ph.D. candidate at New York University
4513 Manhattan College Parkway, Riverdale, NY 10471
| manhattan.edu/english
english department
Our Curriculum
Our department balances the study of the English and American
traditions with a strong commitment to contemporary fields, such as
African American and ethnic studies; postcolonial studies; gender,
sexuality and feminist studies; film studies; and composition and creative
writing. Major coursework balances a core set of required classes with a
wide variety of electives, which allows you to personalize your education.
Many of our courses, such as Theatre in the City or Environmental
Literature, emphasize off-campus experience and study, making NYC’s
world-class theatre scene or its unique ecosystem our classroom.
A rich cocurricular program complements our coursework. The Major
Author Reading Series (M.A.R.S.) brings internationally acclaimed,
prize-winning writers, such as Junot DÍaz and Jennifer Egan, to campus
every semester. Our department honor society, Sigma Tau Delta,
sponsors events throughout the year, such as an annual Read-Aloud
on the Quad. From working as tutors at the College Writing Center to
editing and contributing to campus publications, such as Logos and
Manhattan Magazine, to field trips and service learning, there are
many outlets for students who want to get involved.
faculty
Maeve Adams, 19th Century British Literature; Digital Humanities;
Literary Theory; Postcolonial Studies
Brian Chalk, Early Modern Literature; Shakespeare
Bridget Chalk, Modernism; 20th and 21st Century British Literature
and Culture; Colonial and Postcolonial Studies
the english major in action:
Career Opportunities
As industry leaders and eminent professionals all across the
spectrum confirm, studying English provides top-notch career
preparation. Many students focus on English as a stand-alone major;
many others choose it as a second major or minor to complement
another field of study. Whatever you choose, studying English will
strengthen your preparation for life after college, where employers
eagerly look to English graduates as colleagues and future workplace
leaders who have high-level reading, writing and analytical skills;
think independently and creatively; work both individually and as
members of a team; and are prepared to succeed in an increasingly
diverse, global environment.
"My English major launched me on
my career as a copywriter at multiple
award-winning creative agencies. I learned
to be rigorous and creative in both thought
and execution, how to develop original
ideas even before I uncap my marker. "
–Nick M arricco Valedictori an Class o f 2011,
Seni or C opywri ter at Giant C re ative Strategy
Dan Collins, Composition Theory; History of Rhetoric; Public Health
Ashley Cross, British Romantic Literature and Culture;
Women’s Writing and Gender Studies; Literary Theory
Br. Patrick Horner, Chaucer and Middle English Literature; Medieval
European Literature; History of the English Language
Adam Koehler, Composition and Creative Writing Studies; Rhetorical
Theory; Digital Humanities
Heidi Laudien, Early Modern Women Writers; Pastoral Poetry and Theory;
Feminist Theory
Rocco Marinaccio, 20th and 21st Century U.S. Literature;
Italian-American Literature and Culture; Food Studies
Jeffrey Myers, Early and 19th-Century U.S. Literature;
Literature and the Environment; Ecocriticism; Critical Race Studies
Deirdre O’Leary, Irish, British and American Drama (19th Century
to Contemporary); Women Playwrights; Gender Studies and Literature;
Literary Theory and Performance Studies
Margaret Toth, 19th- and 20th-Century U.S. Literature & Visual Culture;
Film and Adaptation Studies; Multi-ethnic U.S. Literature
David Witzling, 20th and 21st Century U.S. Literature; African-American
Literature; Literary Theory
Dominika Wrozynski, Creative Writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction);
Poetry and Poetics; Literary Theory
Our extensive list of accomplished alumni proves the value of an
English degree to career aspirations of all kinds. Many work in fields
traditionally associated with English, such as publishing, journalism,
law, education, mass media, public relations and advertising. But
just as many have taken their training in English into marketing
and sales, public service, the tech industry, environmental advocacy,
and counseling and the health professions. As a department, we stay
in touch with alumni, who can provide invaluable networking and
internship opportunities for our students. Our close relationship with
the Office of Career Development means that you will have expert
assistance in finding internships in the careers above while earning
your degree. In short, studying English allows you to follow your
passions while making a practical and rewarding career choice.
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